More than 14,000 booked for traffic offences in March

Between March 1 and 26 police booked 369 people for drunk driving out of 4,464 drivers who were checked, while almost 7,000 were caught speeding, and 6,675 for other traffic offences, they said on Sunday.

They also conducted 2,348 inspections in nightclubs, and booked 372 for offences related to the law on recreation centres, which usually means violations of the smoking ban.

More patrols were also carried out at bakeries, jewellery shops and eateries to prevent burglaries and robberies, they said.

What strikes me about this article is it length or lack of it. You would have thought, with the shocking driving antics displayed on the Cyprus roads, you would have had a lengthily report full of all kinds of details, even examples of bad driving. But no, this article looks like a none event, just filling in some news paper space instead using the moment to do some good and educate people.

Mist

Compliance with any rule is not in the psyche of many Cypriots.The expression “it’s for the greater good, the best thing for the country and other people” goes over the head of many it being a strange concept.

Philippos

Anybody booked for demolishing the Cypriot Banking System, a power station and statutory theft, disregard of the law, bribery, corruption, I wonder or just parking on a double yellow or doing 80 in a 65 limit?

Steely Mike

We all have our little gripes. Why so few police patrols along the seafront of Limassol in the area of 28th October Street. Residents and diners are affected by race track antics of motorcyclists and petrol heads before midnight and residents suffer the noise after midnight. No deterrence I suppose because there are probably no bookings.

EGB

The oddest thing about this story is why were only 4,464 breathalysed? If almost 7,000 were caught for speeding why were they not breathalysed as a matter of routine? In truth all 14,000 who committed a traffic offence they are being prosecuting for should have been breathalysed – plus the ones they are not prosecuting. I don’t know the law in Cyprus but I’ve been stopped and breathalysed at random (in a queue of others also stopped) so I assume these checks are legal and so why not do them on all traffic stops as a matter of routine?

Survivor

I’m willing to bet that 6.000 were mobile users from the 6,675 figure for ”other traffic offences”. Texting /reading text and looking for contacts to call must be the most dangerous acts while driving ,apart from drivers looking around to control their children who are loose in the back of the car, etc. etc.

Tony Young

I pulled up out side a bakery where a woman had left a double cabin with the engine running and two children dashing from side to side on the front seat. Not only was the engine running but she had stopped on the wrong side of the road and left her headlights on. As I entered the bakery the woman came out talking on her phone in a typical loud “look at me ain’t I important way” I followed her back to her car and asked her if she hoped her children would grow up. “Why ? ” she said. I then suggested she should read the highway code and pass her test again before her children were pushing up daisies. At that she got her phone out and called some one complaining about what I had said as she drove away none handed. Moral of this story is you can only teach some one to pass their test and not how to drive like a responsible adult.

Survivor

In Cyprus a ”school of motoring” is needed and made law for every learner driver and a ”refresher course” for those who already have a ”driving licence”. It’s so tiring, driving over here because one has to have lightning reflexes and a dozen eyes when driving on any type of road.Not to mention (as you have stated), kids in the front seats of a car with the engine started , it’s an accident waiting to happen.

Barry White

One day it would be instructive to learn from the authorities and CM, how many of the 14,000 paid fines and how much.

It is after all public money.

Al

Fines are not public money. They are punishment on drivers.

GSP

Only if they are paid.

Veritas

More then 14,000 booked for traffic offences, 2,348 inspections at night clubs regarding violations of the smoking ban and then……..
Back to square one and no change.

Tony Young

I have seen the owner of a taverna in Larnaka stand behind his bar smoking every time I have gone past taking my dog for its regular walks. Yet he has built a lovely covered area outside for his customers to sit and smoke under. I wonder if he does’t trust his staff dispensing drinks and taking cash ??

Eye on Cyprus

So, they checked 4,464 drivers in March. That’s 144 per day. Maybe five minutes per driver. Twelve hours work per day for the entire island. About 8.25% of those drivers were drunk. Wow!

SuzieQ

Your math is brilliant–I’ve had a couple of wines so can’t really check it out–one of the penalties for being a dumb blonde!

EGB

See my comment above (if you want), they obviously didn’t even routinely breathalyse all of the nearly 7,000 done for speeding. Why?

Barry White

Cousins.

Mr. Poopybutthole

Well, looks like little progress. Cypriots still behave themselves like monkeys on the road.
Checked this morning.

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